The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-04-20
WHY SOME WOMEN POSE.
Beautiful Forms That Are Seen Only In
the Artists Studio.
New York Star

Beautiful Forms That Are Seen Only In
the Artists studio.
New York start
A Star reporter asked q weIl-knoyn
artist: why does an artist have to have a
model? With all the statues and pictures
and sketches that already exist, why must
he stlll 90 to the original flesh for his de-
signs?''
This is realistic age" was the reply.
"Artists used to study the antique, the
aDtique-forever. Now they want the real
thing-the thing of life. The arts schools
used TO demand that figure be so many
heads high. Now they want them
as they are, all varying, as faces
vary, as everything varies in actual
life. In Paris there are artists who go about
the streets in wagons, with peep holes cut
in the sides of the wagon tops stopping
wherever there is queer posture or inter-
estiDg group or pretty face or anything
worth reproducing. Pictures now must be
from the life. If two artists study together,
ii is to be observed that one gets all the
subtleties of coloring, veining and skin
texture, while the other misses most of
them. 1t is the same with landscape paint
ing. Landscapes used mainly to be in
vented. Now artists are not contented
without getting even the peculiar light of
the country they are painting in, and all
its effects on. the ground and leaves OF
trees.
IAN artist demands of his model that
she shall be plump, pretty and clean.
Artists endeavor to get sittlngs from their
models in the morning, when the model
is just out of bed, 80 she shall be fresh,
vigorous and spirited. They pay for pri-
vate models about 81 or 81 90 an hour and
usually entertain them at luncheon. There
is no end of men models. Artists find
they can get almost any man to pose,
draped or nude, for a third less than
women demand. Every artist has the ad-
dresses Of fifty men. If an artist opens a
studio in this city it won't be three days
before they and many women will call and
ask for work and beg for money.
Women differ very much. Saronv, the
photographer and artist, says Of all the
women he has seen but two were perfect.
The consequence is that this oneis chosen
to pose for her limbs, another for her torso,
or trunk, and so on. Women who have
thin and unprepossessing faces often possess
the most beautiful forms. The tace is no
criterion in Judging OF model. Artists
all agree that the vanity which woman is
charged with possessing is no SANDER upon
the sex, for In private life 1t is found that
many women, the proudest and most cor
rect, can more or less easily be got to pose
regularly, draped or decollete or in short
skirts. Thus, figures not obtainable among
models are often procured for nothing,
and the women are proud of being selected
for this purpose. This is especially so
with married women. Once they trust the
honor of an artist they will suffer them
selves TO be put in any posture, no matter
how ridiculous. Artists find that when
they set up their easels in the country the
men will laugh at them, but the women
will draw near to be sketched."
My artist friend told me an interesting
story OF an experience he had with woman,
now celebrated model, when she first
posed in studio. She dropped in upon
him saying that she mad been a counter
girl in o Neils, a shopping store, at about
So week, and could not make both ends
meet; that lady friend, who was model,
had spoken of him as a gentleman, and
that If he needed subject she would like
him to tell her what to do. He told her
what she would have to accustom herself
to If she followed that life, but she said
she knew all about it. He pointed to a
screen and babe her go behind it and take
off her things. Presently she reappeared,
but in little more undress than if
she were about to retire. Informed
that this was not what was wanted, she dis
appeared and next revealed herself in COM
plete undress, but with her back to the
artist. Here was an extraordinarily beauti-
IUl lOTm, anu as ne mdQ6 q SKETCH Oh Q6T
figure he debated with himself how he
should deal with her. He resolved to be
wholly business-like, and SO, walking over
to where she stood, he babe her turn
around, and posed her as he wished her to
stand. By the time he reached his easel
she was bent double and INDUCING in a Mt
| of crying, blended with almost hysterical
laughter. He told her it was quite evident
that she had better give up her ambition
and return to her former life, and he sup
posed she would. But she did not.
She is now one Of the most noted and
priced models in town. She remains per-
fectly good girl, but is not averse to sitting
entirely disrobed, and smoking a cigarette
while curled up like Turk on a lounge,
waiting for her employer to begin work.
The most popular model now, however, is
a former model who has been married and
had several children and has at last been
obliged to return to the old life in order to
support her husband. Models in good de.
mand make S25 week. A most curious
fact that, my informant says, has been
noticed among artists is that the demi-
monde can not be got to pose as models.
1t would be inferred from that that the
most utter shamelessness is found in those
who do that work, and yet very manv-in
fact all who have modicum of brains
are good women who lead orderly lives
and keep admirable homes.